Taylor leads by example as Pearce encourages youngsters to step up

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David Bentley proved that you can step up even if you step off: the midfield player is in the senior England squad despite upsetting Stuart Pearce by refusing to play in the European Under-21 Championship this summer.

“We had a difference of opinion but his ability and performances made me say to Steve McClaren [the England head coach], this lad is good enough,” Pearce said. Now the England Under-21 coach is unsure about the availability of his captain, Steven Taylor, but he is far from disappointed.

The Newcastle United defender missed the friendly against Romania last month as he was